Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Canada's New Government Announces Canadian Red Ensign Will Fly at Vimy Ridge

OTTAWA, March 21, 2007 - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), is pleased to announce that the Canadian Red Ensign of 1917 will fly in France next month to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the re-dedication of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

Canada's New Government wishes to signal the importance of the Canadian Red Ensign to our national identity. As Speaker of the House of Commons, Alan MacNaughton said, at the flag-raising ceremony in 1965, "The Red Ensign will...take its honoured place among our national treasures."

"There is no greater tribute we could pay to our veterans, living and dead," said Secretary of State Kenney, "than to raise the flag under which, together with the Royal Union Flag (Union Jack), they fought and died for King and Country."

The Vimy Memorial has been restored at a cost of $20-million and will be complete in time for the anniversary and dedication in April.


Information:

Alykhan Velshi
Senior Special Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
819 934-1122

Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101

1 comment:

The Petition moves along...

May 1: Laurie Hawn, M.P. agrees to support petition
April 30: Sent draft petition to The Dominion Institute to seek their sponsorship
April 28: Sent draft petition to Captain(N) Pickingford, Project Manager, Canadian Navy Centennial Project
April 27: Sent petition to Blaine Barker of the Royal Canadian Naval Association and Bob Nixon of the Naval Officer's Association of Canada and Peter Dawe, Executive Director of the RMC Club
April 26: The Monarchist League of Canada members are supportive
April 25: Interesting - even heated - debate over at the Navy, Army, Air Force Forum, where the "Yeas" have it by a two-thirds majority.